PLEASE READ...Arunachala Animal Sanctuary's March 2025 Report.

Welcome to our beloved Shelter!

Dear People...Dear Animal Lovers...Dear Supporters.

Namaste'. I bow to your Innermost Selves.

From my Heart to your Heart, I would like to offer the following gems that are as true now as when I first shared them some years ago. Our Shelter really is special...

Sometimes when animal lovers are visiting for the first time, I tell them to close their eyes for a minute and just experience the quiet energy. I tell them that the softness, the quietness they're experiencing is Grace. And that it is within that field of Grace that everything is unfolding.

Often, early evening, I would just come and sit in the energy, experiencing the wonderful creatures around me. Not focusing on anything in particular. Just sitting. And it felt s-o-o-o GOOD...S-o-o-o PEACEFUL...S-o-o-o HEALING...The dogs and puppies are not kept in cages, but run free and are happy. They are not simply "in captivity". They have a life. They have choices. They can run, rest, play, go off alone...whatever. Such a blessing.

The Shakti sent two incredible Beings to do this Work--Dr. Raja and Vishwa. I've known many fine, fine people in my long years, but these guys are beyond the beyond.They're running our beloved Shelter beautifully, and it's stronger than it's ever been. They are no longer my students. They are on "their own legs", moving with their own strengths, and have taken things beyond where I could have possibly gotten them, even in my prime. I'm humbled by them and sometimes have to remind myself of my own role.

In the first years, I remember, often we moved thru darkness, traversing incredibly difficult terrain. "What", one might ask, "are the qualities that enable one to move thru these spaces?" I think the main ones, the ones that must run deep, deep, deep...are earnestness and perseverance.

We have three full-time veterinarian doctors. Each is a qualified surgeon. Each understands that the physician heals with the Heart. Each understands that caring and love are important.

Our Staff, too, are special, special people. Almost all have been with us ten to fifteen years. All of them, no exceptions, truly care for the animals. But some Special Ones (Supervisor Raja, Pandi, Prem, Dharma) I call "Pure Hearts". Often, their attention alone can heal where medicine fails. The animals know this and love them.

From the very beginning, the Staff have understood that deep healing will only take place if the animals feel safe, cared for, and loved. And it was the Staff who gave them that love and caring. And they understood that the expression of that love was different for everyone. Each Staff member had to find their own way of that expression. They understood that the Precious Ones could tell the difference between someone just being “nice" and someone who really cared. And they all found their own way.

It is so uplifting to experience the happiness of the animals in the Shelter, and as you move around the Municipality, it feels so good to see the transformed relationship between the animals and the people.

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This is a Report that gives an overview of the energy our Work has generated to lift suffering from the Animal Realm. Keep in mind that once the community's Heart opens to the animals, it opens in every direction. So people are nicer to each other, too. It's simply the nature of the Heart.

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To remind you of the level at which we are operating, below are our STATISTICS SINCE OPENING JAN.2007 THRU DEC. 2024

Clinic Visits........................111,162
In-Patient Treatments........221,742
Anti-Rabies Injections.........27,372
Emergency Rescues..............8,843
Dogs Sterilized ......................9,902
Animal Adoptions..................1,694
Non-dogsTreated..................14,034 (Included in"Non-dogs Treated" are 4,472 cows & calves, 3,859 goats & sheep, 3,261 cats, 1,448 birds, 449 rabbits...and 545 squirrels/ donkeys/pigs/peacocks/parrots/eagles/horses/deer/ bullocks/ snakes/turkeys/owls/ducks/mongooses/turtles.)

MONTHLY (these figures are current), we:

treat 800 to 1,500 out-patients in the Clinic, most of whom are "owner dogs";
give 1,500 to 3,000 treatments to in-patients, almost all of whom are homeless dogs;
go out on 100 to 120 emergency rescues;
perform 100 to 125 sterilizations;
give 130 to 250 anti-rabies injections;
place 5 to 15 puppies in good homes;
treat 100 to 200 animals other than dogs.(Mostly cows, calves, goats, sheep, and cats...but many others too.)

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While the stats are impressive, they are not the main thing. THE IMPORTANT THING IS HEART...for each creature to feel safe, cared for, and loved.

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Here are some recent Rescue stories from Vishwa to warm your Heart.

Got an 8am call at the Shelter from someone doing pradakshiina. A deer was being chased by several dogs, and jumped a fence. Pandi, Prem, and Hari went in the ambulance. He was a male, 2 1/2 years old, and had antlers. It took them 45 minutes to catch him. They threw a bedsheet over his head and carried him to the ambulance. The poor guy was terrified. Fortunately, no one got hurt. He had several bites on his back. Significant, but not serious. Dr. Raja treated him--cleaned the wounds and gave him three injections--painkiller, antibiotics, and anti-rabies. They kept him two hours and made him feel as safe as possible. Then they released him. He was very, very happy to be free...Om Namah Shivaya.
Got an 8:30am call at the Shelter. Someone saw a wounded puppy on Pradakshina Road about 8 kms from the Shelter. Prem went. It was a 3 to 4 month old female. The little sweetie was limping badly, so Prem was able to just pick her up. She had a bad compound fracture on her left front leg, and a small wound on her neck. Dr. Mahesh treated her. We've had her 15 days. She stayed in the operation theatre the first 3 days, then was moved to the old clinic where she'd have company. She's made friends with several of the dogs and puppies. It was a bad break, so she's not playing yet. She's just kind of hanging out with them...and sleeping alongside. Vishwa will find a good home for her when she's ready...Om Namah Shivaya.
Someone closely connected with the Shelter called Dr. Raja at 7:30pm. He saw a dog almost too weak to move near his house, about 7 kms from the Shelter. Arunagiri and Balaram went. It was a male, about 7 years old. He looked like a walking skeleton. You could clearly see every one of his ribs. We've had him two weeks. He hadn't been in an accident. He was just starving to death. He'd walk a short distance, and then collapse. Dr. Raja treated him, including heavy doses of calcium and vitamins. In the morning he got a good warm bath. Slowly, as his appetite gets stronger, his energy is coming back. He now has a strong appetite...Om Namah Shivaya. Mani has been watching him during the day; Balaram at night. He's bonded with both. But he actually likes the entire Staff. He was very happy to be rescued, and will be with us permanently...Om Namah Shivaya.

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Before closing I want to mention My Guru. My Teacher. Many, many years ago during his lifetime, he would give a short teaching each night. And he'd always begin with, "I welcome you All with all my Heart. This is my most important Practice...Welcoming another Being with love."

So many things I learned from him. One of the central things was that it isn't how many people love and appreciate you that is important. The whole world can love you, and if your inner-state isn't good, it doesn't help a lot. What is important is that your own Heart is open to loving and caring. And it is loving and caring for others that is uplifting and gives everything meaning and fills life with joy.

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This brings us to the end of the Report.

Hoping that each of you is doing excellently.

May we all be Blessed with greater compassion. May we all be Guided and Protected.

As in previous Reports, I've included a collection of photos. Please enjoy. Remember the theme is simply Love.

PLEASE...REMEMBER...DONATIONS.

THE PRECIOUS ONES NEED US...AND WE NEED YOU.

THESE ARE LEAN TIMES FOR US. RECURRING DONATIONS, EVEN QUITE MODEST ONES, ARE BEST.

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Sending Blessings, Love, and Wishes for all things Good. From all of us...Me, Dr. Raja, Vishwa, our devoted Staff, and The Precious Ones.

May our beloved Planet heal. May we all be blessed with more compassionate understanding. May we all be good to each other.

Leslie, The Aging Expatriate Warrior